ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has broken his silence on reports of a breakaway ‘super tour’ led by the four Grand Slams. The Italian claimed that any sort of division could “destroy” the sport’s values it as he explained why they didn’t need a civil war. Instead, Gaudenzi backed a scenario that saw all of tennis’ governing bodies working together.
The tennis world was recently rocked by reports that the Grand Slams could form a 14-event premium tour, similar to Formula One. According to The Athletic, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open were in talks to band together and acquire the existing nine Masters 1000 events, also adding a 10th to be staged in Saudi Arabia.
It would leave the ATP and WTA to control the lower-level 500 and 250-point events. And the chairman of the men’s tennis tour has now responded to the reports. While Gauzendi thought it would be a “mistake” to create a breakaway tour, he told The National there was no real danger that the Masters events could leave the ATP to link up with the Majors.
“I think that generally there is a lot of noise in that regard,” Gaudenzi said, before referencing the ATP’s strategic OneVision plan to unify the sport. He continued: “I think what I’ve been extremely vocal about the last four years with OneVision is that we need to figure out a way to work together, right?
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“Because ultimately, whatever was written in that article, it’s definitely the concept of focusing on a premium product, which will mean the Slams and the Masters and the premium product, all together combined, is a very powerful proposition for the consumers. That I agree with 100 per cent. That’s what we are trying to do with OneVision. Obviously, I don’t know, different people probably come up with different ideas on how to get there.”
As for the specific suggestions that the Grand Slams and Masters could break away from the rest of the sport, the ATP boss believes that scenario “will only destroy value, not create value.” Gaudenzi also explained that it would be difficult to come back if the relationships between the different governing bodies were fractured.
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However, it seems there is no concern that the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open will try to go against the grain. Instead, the ATP figurehead believes that the Slams aren’t interested in running a super tour and would rather simplify things instead of creating a “civil war” in tennis.
He added: “I’m 100 per cent pro-unity and pro finding solutions through conversations in a room. I strongly believe we can agree a lot more than we actually believe, when you’re together. Because ultimately we are aligned. We are all pushing for tennis to be stronger and growing, vis-a-vis the other sports and vis-a-vis the other entertainment properties. So we’re on the same side, we’re on the same team – that’s team tennis. Having civil war doesn’t help.”
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